Cheat vs. Deceive — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
Cheat involves breaking rules for advantage, while deceive involves misleading or lying to someone.
Difference Between Cheat and Deceive
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cheat refers to acting dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination. Deceive means to cause someone to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain a personal advantage. While cheating might involve copying answers during a test, deceiving could mean convincing someone the test was canceled.
In the context of relationships, to cheat is to be unfaithful, not following the expected rules of monogamy. To deceive in relationships involves hiding the truth or manipulating facts to keep someone unaware of certain realities, which can include the act of cheating. Cheating breaks the pact of loyalty, while deceiving covers the act with lies.
When it comes to financial matters, cheating could involve not reporting income to avoid taxes. Deceiving, in this case, would entail providing false information to cover up the cheating. Cheating directly affects the material aspect, whereas deceiving affects the perception of reality.
In sports, cheating might consist of using banned substances to enhance performance. Deceiving, on the other hand, could mean pretending to follow the rules while finding covert ways to break them. Cheating affects the fairness of the competition, while deceiving influences the trust between players and spectators.
Cheating and deceiving both involve a breach of integrity, but the methods and implications differ. Cheating is a direct action against rules or expectations, while deceiving is about manipulating someone's understanding or perception of the truth. Cheating is the act, deceiving is the cover-up.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Act dishonestly for advantage
Mislead someone by falsehood
Focus
Rules or expectations
Perception of truth
Contextual Example
Copying answers in a test
Lying about the nature of the test
Relationship Implication
Breaking fidelity agreement
Hiding or lying about infidelity
Legal Perspective
Fraud or breach of contract
Misrepresentation or false statement
Compare with Definitions
Cheat
To act dishonestly to gain an unfair advantage.
He decided to cheat on the final exam.
Deceive
To mislead by a false appearance or statement.
The con artist deceived the tourists.
Cheat
To be sexually unfaithful.
He cheated on his partner.
Deceive
To be untruthful or insincere.
The witness tried to deceive the court.
Cheat
To deceive or trick.
The magician cheated the audience with his sleight of hand.
Deceive
To cause to believe what is not true.
He deceived his friend about the cost.
Cheat
To deceive by trickery; swindle
Cheated customers by overcharging them for purchases.
Deceive
To give a false impression.
The clouds can deceive sailors into expecting a storm.
Cheat
To deprive by trickery; defraud
Cheated them of their land.
Deceive
To cause to believe what is not true; mislead.
Cheat
To mislead; fool
Illusions that cheat the eye.
Deceive
(Archaic) To catch by guile; ensnare.
Cheat
To elude; escape
Cheat death.
Deceive
To practice deceit.
Cheat
To act dishonestly; practice fraud.
Deceive
To give a false impression
Appearances can deceive.
Cheat
To violate rules deliberately, as in a game
Was accused of cheating at cards.
Deceive
(transitive) To trick or mislead.
Cheat
(Sports) To position oneself closer to a certain area than is normal or expected
The shortstop cheated toward second base.
Deceive
To lead into error; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose upon; to mislead; to cheat; to disappoint; to delude; to insnare.
Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Nimble jugglers that deceive the eye.
What can 'scape the eyeOf God all-seeing, or deceive his heart?
Cheat
An act of cheating; a fraud or swindle.
Deceive
To beguile; to amuse, so as to divert the attention; to while away; to take away as if by deception.
These occupations oftentimes deceivedThe listless hour.
Cheat
One who cheats; a swindler.
Deceive
To deprive by fraud or stealth; to defraud.
Plant fruit trees in large borders, and set therein fine flowers, but thin and sparingly, lest they deceive the trees.
Cheat
A technique that exploits a flaw or hidden feature in a video game or computer program.
Deceive
Be false to; be dishonest with
Cheat
(Law) Fraudulent acquisition of another's property.
Deceive
Cause someone to believe an untruth;
The insurance company deceived me when they told me they were covering my house
Cheat
(Botany) Any of several species of brome, especially Bromus secalinus, an annual European grass widespread as a weed.
Cheat
(intransitive) To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation.
My brother flunked biology because he cheated on his mid-term.
Cheat
(transitive) To manage to avoid something even though it seemed inevitable.
He cheated death when his car collided with a moving train.
I feel as if I've cheated fate.
Cheat
(transitive) To deceive; to fool; to trick.
My ex-wife cheated me out of $40,000.
He cheated his way into office.
Cheat
Someone who cheats.
Cheat
An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception.
Cheat
The weed cheatgrass.
Cheat
(card games) A card game where the goal is to have no cards remaining in a hand, often by telling lies.
Cheat
(video games) A hidden means of gaining an unfair advantage in a video game, often by entering a cheat code.
Cheat
(obsolete) A sort of low-quality bread.
Cheat
An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture.
When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat.
Cheat
One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater.
Airy wonders, which cheats interpret.
Cheat
A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; - called also chess. See Chess.
Cheat
The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth.
Cheat
Wheat, or bread made from wheat.
Their purest cheat,Thrice bolted, kneaded, and subdued in paste.
Cheat
To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle.
I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island.
Cheat
To beguile.
To cheat winter of its dreariness.
Cheat
To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards.
Cheat
Weedy annual grass often occurs in grainfields and other cultivated land; seeds sometimes considered poisonous
Cheat
Weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat
Cheat
Someone who leads you to believe something that is not true
Cheat
The act of swindling by some fraudulent scheme;
That book is a fraud
Cheat
A deception for profit to yourself
Cheat
Deprive somebody of something by deceit;
The con-man beat me out of $50
This salesman ripped us off!
We were cheated by their clever-sounding scheme
They chiseled me out of my money
Cheat
Defeat someone in an expectation through trickery or deceit
Cheat
Engage in deceitful behavior; practice trickery or fraud;
Who's chiseling on the side?
Cheat
To violate rules deliberately.
She found a way to cheat the system.
Cheat
To avoid something by trickery or deceit.
She cheated death in a daring escape.
Common Curiosities
Can a person cheat without deceiving?
Yes, one can cheat by breaking rules without necessarily lying.
Are cheat and deceive interchangeable?
Not always, as they have different implications.
Does deceiving always involve lying?
Yes, deception involves falsehoods or misleading truths.
Can you deceive someone without cheating?
Yes, deception can occur without any rule-breaking.
Is deceiving someone illegal?
It can be, especially in matters of fraud or misrepresentation.
Is it cheating if everyone consents to the action?
If rules are knowingly and willingly disregarded by all parties, it's not typically considered cheating.
Does cheating always affect others?
Typically, yes, as it gives an unfair advantage over others.
Can businesses cheat or deceive?
Yes, businesses can engage in both cheating and deceiving practices.
Is cheating always intentional?
Yes, cheating requires a deliberate action.
Is deception the same as betrayal?
Deception can lead to betrayal, but they are not synonymous.
Can cheating be accidental?
Cheating implies intent, so it is not accidental.
Does deception always harm the deceived?
Not always, but it often leads to harm or a breach of trust.
Are there consequences for deceiving someone?
Yes, there can be social, legal, or personal consequences.
Can animals deceive?
Yes, in a manner of speaking, animals can engage in deceptive behavior for survival.
Can you cheat at a game if there are no rules?
No, cheating requires a set of rules to be broken.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
